Hopkinsville has three games this week against teams ranked in the Coaches Top 25 Poll. However, their attempt to improve their own ranking hit a stumbling block as they fell to Daviess County 4-2 Sunday afternoon at the Stadium of Champions. The game was a rematch of last year’s state tournament game won by the Panthers.
Daviess County, ranked 11th in the coaches’ poll, struck first when Kegan Settle scored a goal nine minutes into the contest. The Tigers appeared shook when Maxten Miller scored on a breakaway two minutes later to put the Panthers up 2-0.
Hopkinsville, ranked 14th in the poll, answered six minutes later when Ethan Noel found the back of the net. However, the momentum was short-lived as Daviess County was awarded a penalty kick two minutes later, and Brian Winkler knocked it home for a 3-1 lead.
In the second half, Caleb Joiner pulled the Tigers to within a goal by banging home a pass from Noel at the 47:00 mark. The Tigers had a few more chances to score but couldn’t convert.
The Panthers added some insurance with 18 minutes left when Declan Sandifer cleaned up a missed shot in front of the net and scored the final goal of the game.
Hopkinsville had eight shots in the first half but just six in the second half in dropping their second game of the season. Hoptown was also playing without Tyler Aldridge due to injury. Aldridge has scored five goals and is third on the team with six assists.
Daviess County has won four straight games and improved to 10-3 on the season.
Hopkinsville drops to 8-2 with the loss. They will play at Henderson County Tuesday. The Colonels are ranked 19th in the coaches’ poll, but are ranked 11th in the Maher computer rankings, which is six spots ahead of Hopkinsville. The Tigers will host 12th ranked McCracken County Thursday.
